Could someone notify our clueless congresscritters? Fresh data from the U.S. Department of Energy show the amount of petroleum products shipped by the world’s top oil exporters fell 2.5% last year, despite a 57% increase in prices, a trend that appears to be holding true this year as well.

In the energy market Wednesday, crude for July delivery rose after Tuesday’s knockdown, closing at $131.03/barrel, up $2.18. July reformulated gasoline gained 6.78 cents, to $3.4476/gallon.

Costs for solar thermal energy will be cheaper than coal as soon as 2020, according to a report from the US Department of Energy, making one solar ETF a great way to profit.

Google, Chevron and Goldman are all betting that this prediction is correct. This from Bloomberg:

Unlike photovoltaic solar panels that convert sunlight to electricity, solar thermal focuses sunrays with mirrors to heat oil in glass pipes to about 700 degrees Fahrenheit (370 degrees Celsius).

In the energy market Wednesday, crude for July delivery kicked off its run as front-month contract by heading for the moon, skying yet further into uncharted territory to close at a record $133.17/barrel, up $4.19.

The US is finally doing something about its addiction to foreign oil, according to a report from the Department of Energy.

The report says America’s foreign oil dependency is expected to fall from 60%, to 50% in 2015. The projected reduction is due to high crude oil prices, more efficient cars, and the use of ethanol, which have cut imports of oil to the US for the first time since 1977.

The trend is likely to have significant implications for US national and foreign policies, reports the Financial Times

Perhaps part of the humor is that this comes at the same time as the price of gasoline went up 3 cents to another record high of an average of $3.70 a gallon. This is up 22% from this time last year! 22 percent! 22! Hahahaha!

In the energy market Wednesday, crude for June backed off, falling under $125 to close at $124.22/barrel, down $1.58. June reformulated gasoline lost 2 cents, to $3.18/gallon.

What if I told you Shell, BP, Exxon Mobil, BHP Billiton, Chevron and ConocoPhillips have committed more than $100 billion into a new source of energy? You’d definitely want to get involved in the early stages, right?

In the energy market Tuesday, crude for June delivery resumed its rise after a one-day breather, closing at $125.80/barrel, up $1.57. June reformulated gasoline gained 4 cents, to $3.20/gallon.

In the energy market Wednesday, crude for June delivery continued on its rocket trajectory to a new closing record, finishing at $123.53/barrel, up $1.69, after an intraday peak of $123.75.